Financial Planning

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• Features

• Time for An Upgrade: Create A Technology Plan that Will Work—for You

  By Greg Friedman

  Studies reveal that highly successful firms invest in technology by upgrading existing systems, buying new technology and implementing ongoing training.

• Tech Tools for A Tough Economy

  By Joel P. Bruckenstein

  Hard times demand that you make your practice smarter, faster and more efficient. Your custodian or broker-dealer may have the software you need to do the job, and at the right price—free, or close to it.

• What Works Now

  By Marie Swift

  These are not the good old days, and the good old ways of doing business may not be enough to get you through. So take some ideas from these advisors who have turned the recession into an opportunity.

• Columns

Business Consultant

• Tough Times

  By Glenn G. Kautt

  We've been calming clients and cutting costs to make sure we're positioned for 2009.

Industry Insight

• A Conversation

  By Bob Veres.

  Here's what I told my elected representative about financial services regulation. What will you tell yours?

The Elite Advisor

• Reaching Out Now

  By John J. Bowen Jr.

  Today's turbulent market makes this a great time to build alliances with other professionals.

• Industry

• On Beyond Wealth

  By Brooke Southall

  The greatest growth now may be among family offices, and multigenerational planning is just the beginning. Do you know how to buy a yacht?

Fund Manager

• What's Old Is New

  

  By Ilana Polyak

  The world's oldest mutual fund turns 85 this year and it's celebrating with a turnaround.

• Departments

My Word

• Madoff Malaise

  By Ron Surz

  What we've learned from Bernie: Clients deserve more rigorous due diligence.

The Portfolio

• Fine Young Cannibals

  

  By Lawrence Carrel

  Are ETFs eating up mutual funds for lunch? During the market meltdown, it seemed that way.

• Against the Grain

  

  By Susan B. Weiner

  Alternative strategies, whether in mutual funds or ETFs, are gaining popularity for one simple reason: They didn't fall apart when the market did.

• Municipal Aid

  

  By Donald Jay Korn

  Startlingly high muni-bond yields reflect the perceived risks, especially where state economies are vulnerable.

• Gauging the Mess

  

  By Craig L. Israelsen

  More mutual funds had a negative return in 2008 than individual stocks. Here's why.

The Practice

• The Missing Sync

  By David J. Drucker

  If you don't have a sales assistant you probably need one, and some B-Ds will show you how to get one.

The Client

• Rollover Right

  

  By Donald Jay Korn

  Yes, your elderly clients can still make a charitable rollover from an IRA. But in a year when required distributions have been suspended, should they?

• A Delicate Time

  

  By Karen C. Altfest

  A widow needs respect and kindness from her financial advisor to move her life in a new financial direction.

• One-Year Prize

  

  By Ed Slott

  In 2009, your clients can skip taking the required minimum distributions from their retirement plans.

Data

• A New Low

  

  By Frank O'Connor

  New VA sales plummeted in the third quarter of 2007, putting them in danger of six-year lows.

• High Net Worth

• Retirement Asset Tips and Traps

  

  By Martin Shenkman

  Proper planning for retirement assets is essential to high-net-worth clients. Here are a few crucial details.

• Reputation Rehab

  By Suzanne Mcgee

  The Madoff scam taught clients that everything they think they know about you could be wrong.